Brad Karp, chairman of the major corporate law firm Paul Weiss, resigned on Wednesday after fallout over emails between him and notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were made public.
“Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life,” Karp said in a statement. “Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm.”
Scott Barshay, who had been chair of Paul Weiss’ corporate department, was appointed chairman of the firm, effective immediately, according to the firm.
Karp had been at Paul Weiss for more than four decades.
His resignation comes two days after the firm said “Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email” with Epstein, all of which he regrets.”
